DPW MOI NTT Appreciates the Constitutional Court’s Decision on Legal Protection for Journalists

DPW MOI NTT Appreciates the Constitutional Court’s Decision on Legal Protection for Journalists

REINHA.com – The Indonesian Online Media Regional Leadership Council (DPW MOI) of East Nusa Tenggara Province appreciates the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which emphasizes legal protection for journalists in carrying out journalistic duties.

Chairman of the DPW MOI NTT, Herry Battileo, SH, MH, considered the decision to be an important milestone for press freedom, especially for regional journalists who often face the threat of criminalization.

(Also read: Journalistic Work Threatened, MK Decides to Close Criminal Procedure and Lawsuits)

“This Constitutional Court decision provides a sense of security for journalists so that they are not easily drawn into the criminal or civil realm for their journalistic work,” said Herry Battileo in Kupang, Tuesday (20/1/2026).

According to the Chairman of Peradi, Kupang Regency, the Constitutional Court has emphasized that disputes resulting from reporting must be resolved first through the mechanism of Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press by involving the Press Council.

This means that Herry continued, the mechanism for the right to reply and the right to correction must be the main way to resolve disputes, not directly bringing journalists to legal proceedings.

He said that this decision would have a positive impact on the press freedom climate in the regions, including in NTT, so that journalists could work more professionally and independently.

“Journalists are increasingly free to carry out social control functions without fear as long as they work according to the journalistic code of ethics,” said Herry.***(MB/JMW)

# DPW MOI NTT Appreciates the Constitutional Court’s Decision on Legal Protection for Journalists